Chicago: Mumbai jihad suspect pleads not guilty

No doubt the charges against him are simply “Islamophobia.” After all, look at Maher Hawash! Look at Sami Al-Arian! No, wait —

“Mumbai terror suspect Rana pleads ‘not guilty’ in Chicago: North Side man also is charged in plot on Danish cartoonist,” by Natasha Korecki for the Chicago Sun-Times, January 25 (thanks to Choi):

A Chicago man pleaded not guilty this morning to charges that he took part in a terror conspiracy involving the deadly 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, India, and in a plot that targeted a Danish newspaper cartoonist.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 49, a North Side resident, also pleaded not guilty during an appearance in federal court in Chicago to a charge of providing material support to a designated terrorist group.

Rana faces up to a life sentence if convicted.

Rana is one of two Chicago men indicted this month on charges he had a hand in the attacks that left 166 people dead in Mumbai, as well as in planning an assault on a Danish newspaper cartoonist who sketched a drawing of the prophet Muhammad that was published in the Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark. The cartoon offended much of the Islamic world, sparking riots.

The other man, David Coleman Headley, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Chicago.

Rana’s attorney, Patrick Blegen, said Rana doesn’t have the money to pay for the entirety his legal fees, which will be more substantial in a terrorism case. Rana is asking the judge in the case to make Blegen his court-appointed lawyer, which would mean taxpayers would ultimately pick up the bill.

Rana owns the Chicago-based immigration advisory business, First World Immigration, as well as a meat plant in Grundy County that slaughters animals according to Muslim tradition.

So why is he hurting for money?

Rana, who is being housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago, is appealing a ruling that says he must stay behind bars pending trial. He’s seeking to be freed on bail.

Blegen said his client has no intention of fleeing and leaving his family holding the bag. “He wants to fight this,” Blegen said.

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Robert Spencer’s Free Speech Book

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.